第19章

Ithadbeenfeltvaguelywhenthenewyoungladyfrom"Meriker"

hadwalkedthroughthevillagestreet，andhaddrawnpeopletodoorsandwindowsbyhermerepassing。AfterthereturnfromLondonthesignsofactivityweresuchasmadethevillagerscatchtheirbreathsinutteringuncertainexclamations，andcausedthefeminineelementtocatchupoffspringor，draggingitbyitshand，runintoneighbours’cottagesandstandtalkingtheincrediblethingoverinloweredandratherbreathlessvoices。

Yettheincrediblethinginquestionwas——haditbeenseenfromthestandpointofmoreprosperousvillagers——anythingbutextraordinary。InentirelyruralplacestheCastle，theHallortheManor，theGreatHouse——inshort——stillretainssomewhatoftheoldfeudalpowertobestowbenefitsorwithholdthem。WealthandgoodwillattheManorsupplyworkandresultantcomfortinthevillageanditssurroundingholdings。PatronisedbytheGreatHousethetwoorthreesmallvillageshopsbestirthemselvesandawakentoactivity。

Theblacksmithswingshishammerwithrenewedspiritoverthenumerousjobsthegentry’sstables，carriagehouses，gardentools，andhouseholdrepairsgivetohim。Thecarpentermendsandmakes，thevicaragefeelsatease，realisingthatitschurchanditscharitiesdonotstandunsupported。Smallfarmersandlargerones，underarichandinterestedlandlord，thriveandareabletoholdtheirownevenagainstthetricksofwindandweather。Farmlabourersbeing，asaresult，certainofsteadyanddecentwage，trudgetoandfro，withstolidcheerfulness，knowingthatthepotboilsandthechildren’sfeetareshod。

SuperannuatedoldmenandwomenaresureoftheirbrothandSundaydinner，andtheirdreadoftheimpending"Union"

fadesaway。Thesquireormylordormyladycanbedependedupontocarefortheiroldbonesuntiltheyarelaidunderthesodinthegreenchurchyard。WithwealthandgoodwillattheGreatHouse，lifewarmsandoffersprospects。ThereareChristmasfeastsandgiftsandvillagetreats，andthebigcarriageorthesmalleronesstopatcottagedoorsandatonceconferexcitingdistinctionandcarrygoodcheer。

ButStornhamvillagehadscarcelyaremotememoryofanyperiodofsuchprosperity。IthadnotexistedevenintheolderSirNigel’stime，andcertainlythepresentSirNigel’sreignhadbeenmarkedonlybyneglect，ill—temper，indifference，andafallingintodisorderanddecay。Farmswerepoorlyworked，labourerswereunemployed，therewasnotradefromthemanorhousehold，nocarriages，nohorses，nocompany，nospendingofmoney。Cottagesleaked，floorsweredamp，thechurchroofitselfwasfallingtopieces，andthevicarhadnothingtogive。

Thehelplessandoldcottagerswerecarriedtothe"Union"and，dyingthere，wereburiedbythestintedparishinparishcoffins。

Herladyshiphadnotvisitedthecottagessinceherchild’sbirth。AndnowsuchinspiritingeventsaswereeverydayhappeningsinluckyplaceslikeWesterbridgeandWratchamandYangford，showedsignsofbeingabouttooccurinStornhamitself。

Tobeginwith，evenbeforethejourneytoLondon，KedgershadmadetwoorthreevisitstoTheClock，andhadbeeninacommunicativemood。Hehadrelatedthestoryofthemorningwhenhehadlookedupfromhisworkandhadfoundthestrangeyoungladystandingbeforehim，withtheresultthathehadbeen"struckallofaheap。"Andthenhehadgivenadetailedaccountoftheirwalkroundtheplace，andofthewayinwhichshehadlookedatthingsandaskedquestions，suchaswouldhavedonecredittoaman"witha’eadon’im。"

"Nay！Nay！"commentedKedgers，shakinghisownheaddoubtfully，evenwhilewithadmiration。"I’veneverseenthelikebefore——inyoungwomen——neitherinladyyoungwomennorinthemthat’sotherwise。"

AfterwardshadtranspiredthestoryofMrs。Noakes，andthekitchengrate，Mrs。NoakeshavingafriendinMissLupin，thevillagedressmaker。

"I’dnotputitpasther，"wasMrs。Noakes’summingup，"toorderanewone，Iwouldn’t。"

Thefootmanintheshabbyliveryhadbeenalittlewildinhisstatements，beingrenderedsobytheadmiringandexcitedstateofhismind。Hedweltuponthematterofher"looks，"andthewayshelightedupthedingydining—room，andsoconversedthatamanfoundhimselflisteningandglancingwhenitwashisbusinesstobeanunhearing，unseeingpieceofmechanism。

Suchsimplerecordsofservitors’impressionswerequiteenoughforStornhamvillage，andproducedinitasenseofbeingrousedalittlefromsleeptolistentodistantanduncomprehended，butnotunagreeable，sounds。

OnemorningButtle，thecarpenter，lookedupasKedgershaddone，andsawstandingonthethresholdofhisshopthetallyoungwoman，whowasasensationandaneventinherself。

"Youarethemasterofthisshop？"sheasked。

Buttlecameforward，touchinghisbrowinhastysalute。

"Yes，mylady，"heanswered。"JosephButtle，yourladyship。"

"IamMissVanderpoel，"dismissingthesuddenlybestowedtitlewitheasydirectness。"Areyoubusy？Iwanttotalktoyou。"

Noonehadanyreasontobe"busy"atanytimeinStornhamvillage，nosuchluck；butButtledidnotsmileasherepliedthathewasatlibertyandplacedhimselfathisvisitor’sdisposal。Thetallyoungladycameintothelittleshop，andtookthechairrespectfullyofferedtoher。Buttlesawhereyessweeptheplaceasiftakinginitsresources。

"IwanttotalktoyouaboutsomeworkwhichmustbedoneattheCourt，"sheexplainedatonce。"Iwanttoknowhowmuchcanbedonebyworkmenofthevillage。Howmanymenhaveyou？"

"Howmanymenhadhe？"Buttlewaveredbetweengratificationatitsbeingsupposedthathehad"men"underhimandgrumpydepressionbecausetheillusionmustbedispelled。

"There’smeandSimSoames，miss，"heanswered。"Nomore，an’noless。"

"Wherecanyougetmore？"askedMissVanderpoel。

ItcouldnotbedeniedthatButtlereceivedamentalshockwhichvergedinitssuddennessonbeingalmostaphysicalone。

Thepromptnessanddecisionofsuchaqueryswepthimoffhisfeet。ThatSimSoamesandhimselfshouldbeaninsufficientforcetocombatwithsuchrepairsastheCourtcouldaffordwasanideapresentinganaspectofunheard—ofnovelty，butthatmethodsascoollyradicalasthosethisquestioningimplied，shouldberesortedto，wasstaggering。

"MeandSimhasalwaysdonewhatworkwasdone，"hestammered。

"Ithasn’tbeenmuch。"

MissVanderpoelneitherassentedtonordissentedfromthislastpalpabletruth。SheregardedButtlewithsearchingeyes。

Shewaswonderingifanypracticalabilityconcealeditselfbehindhisdullness。Ifshegavehimwork，couldhedoit？Ifshegavethewholevillagework，wasittoofargoneinitsunspurredstodginesstoberousedtocarryingitout？

"Thereisagreatdealtobedonenow，"shesaid。"Allthatcanbedoneinthevillageshouldbedonehere。Itseemstomethatthevillagerswantwork——newwork。Dothey？"

Work！Newwork！ThesparkoflifeinhersteadyeyesactuallylightedasparkinthebeingofJoeButtle。Youngladiesinvillages——gentry——usuallyvisitedthecottagersabitiftheywerewell—meaningyoungwomen——leftgoodbooksandbrothorjelly，potteredaboutandwereseenatchurch，andplayingcroquet，andfinallymarriedandremovedtootherplaces，orgraduallyfadedyearbyyearintorespectablespinsterhood。Andthisonecomesin，andintwoorthreeminutesshowsthatsheknowsthingsabouttheplaceandunderstands。

Amanmightthentakeitforgrantedthatshewouldunderstandthethinghedaringlygatheredcouragetosay。

"Theywantanywork，miss——thattheyaresureofdecentpayfor——sureofit。"

Shedidunderstand。Andshedidnottreathisimplicationasanimpertinence。Sheknewitwasnotintendedasone，and，indeed，shesawinitasortofearnestofapossiblepracticalqualityinButtle。SuchworkastheCourthaddemandedhadremainedunpaidforwithquietpersistence，untilevenbillshadbeguntolagandfalloff。Shecouldseeexactlyhowithadbeendone，andcomprehendedquiteclearlyalackofenthusiasminthepresenceofordersfromtheGreatHouse。

"Allworkwillbepaidfor，"shesaid。"Eachweektheworkmenwillreceivetheirwages。Theymaybesure。Iwillberesponsible。"

"Thankyou，miss，"saidButtle，andhehalfunconsciouslytouchedhisforeheadagain。

"Inaplacelikethis，"theyoungladywentoninhermellowvoice，andwithareflectivethoughtfulnessinherhandsomeeyes，"onanestatelikeStornham，noworkthatcanbedonebythevillagersshouldbedonebyanyoneelse。Thepeopleofthelandshouldbetrainedtodosuchworkasthemanorhouse，orcottages，orfarmsrequiretohavedone。"

"Howdidshethinkthatout？"wasButtle’sreflection。InplacessuchasStornham，throughgenerationaftergeneration，thethingshehadjustsaidwasacceptedaslaw，clungtoasapossession，anydivergencefromitbeingagrievancesullenlyandbitterlygrumbledover。Andinplacesenoughtherewasdivergenceinthesedays——thegentrysendingtoLondonforthings，andhavingupworkmentodotheirbest—payingjobsforthem。Thelawhadbeensolongalawthatnovillagecouldseejusticeinoutsidersbeingsentfor，eventodoworktheycouldnotdowellthemselves。Itshowedwhatshewas，thishandsomeyoungwoman——eventhoughshedidcomefromAmerica——thatsheshouldknowwhatwasright。

Shetookanote—bookoutandopeneditontheroughtablebeforeher。

"Ihavemadesomenoteshere，"shesaid，"andasketchortwo。Wemusttalkthemovertogether。"

IfshehadgivenJoeButtlecauseforsurpriseattheoutset，shegavehimfurthercauseduringthenexthalf—hour。Theworkthatwastobedonewassuchasmadehimopenhiseyes，anddrawinhisbreath。Ifhewastobeallowedtodoit——ifhecoulddoit——ifitwastobepaidfor——itstruckhimthathewouldbeamansetupforlife。Ifherladyshiphadcomeandorderedittobedone，hewouldhavethoughtthepoorthinghadgonemad。Butthisonehaditalljotteddowninaclearhand，withouttheleastfeminineconfusionofdetail，andwithhereandtherealittlesharply—drawnsketch，suchasacarpenter，ifhecoulddraw，whichButtlecouldnot，mighthavemade。

"There’snotworkmenenoughinthevillagetodoitinayear，miss，"hesaidatlast，withagaspofdisappointment。

Shethoughtitoveraminute，herpencilpoisedinherhandandhereyesonhisface"Canyou，"shesaid，"undertaketogetmenfromothervillages，andsuperintendwhattheydo？Ifyoucandothat，theworkisstillpassingthroughyourhands，andStornhamwillreapthebenefitofit。Yourworkmenwilllodgeatthecottagesandspendpartoftheirwagesattheshops，andyouwhoareaStornhamworkmanwillearnthemoneytobemadeoutofaratherlargecontract。"

JoeButtlebecamequitehot。Ifyouhavebroughtupafamilyforyearsontheproceedsofsuchjobsasdrivingaten—

pennynailinhereorthere，tinkeringaholeinacottageroof，knockingupashelfinthevicaragekitchen，andmendingapaneloffence，tobesuddenlyconfrontedwithaproposaltoengageworkmenandundertake"contracts"isshorteningtothebreathandheatingtotheblood。

"Miss，"hesaid，"we’veneverdonebigjobs，SimSoamesan’me。

P’rapswe’renotuptoit——butit’dbeafortunetous。"

Shewaslookingdownatoneofherpapersandmakingpencilmarksonit。

"YoudidsomeworklastyearonalittlehouseatTidhurst，didn’tyou？"shesaid。

Tothinkofherknowingthat！Yes，theunaccountablegoodluckhadactuallycometohimthattwoTidhurstcarpenters，fallingillofthesametyphoidatthesametime，throughlivingsidebysideinthesameorderofunsanitarycottage，heandSimhadbeengiventheirworktofinish，andhaddonetheirbest。

"Yes，miss，"heanswered。

"IheardthatwhenIwasinquiringaboutyou。IdroveovertoTidhursttoseethework，anditwasverysoundandwelldone。Ifyoudidthat，IcanatleasttrustyoutodosomethingattheCourtwhichwillprovetomewhatyouareequalto。IwantaStornhammantoundertakethis。"

"NoTidhurstman，"saidJoeButtle，withsuddencourage，"noryetnoBarnhurst，noryetnoYangford，norWratchamshalldoit，ifIcanlookitintheface。It’sStornhamworkandStornhamhadoughttohaveit。Itgivesmeabrace—uptohearofit。"

Thetallyoungladylaughedbeautifullyandgotup。

"CometotheCourtto—morrowmorningatten，andwewilllookitovertogether，"shesaid。"Good—morning，Buttle。"

Andshewentaway。

InthetaproomofTheClock，whenJoeButtledroppedinforhispotofbeer，hefoundFox，thesaddler，andTread，theblacksmith，andeachofthemfellupontheotherswithsomethingofthesamestorytotell。ThenewyoungladyfromtheCourthadbeentoseethem，too，andhadbroughttoeachherdefinitelittlenote—book。Harnesswastoberepairedandfurbishedup，thebigcarriageandtheoldphaetonweretobeputinorder，andMasterUghtred’scartwastobegivennewpaintandsprings。

"Thisiswhatshesaid，"Fox’sstoryran，"andshesaiditsostraightforwardandbusiness—likethattheconceitedestmanthatlivedcouldn’tbeupsetbyit。`Iwanttoseewhatyoucando，’shesays。`IamnewtotheplaceandImustfindoutwhateveryonecando，thenIshallknowwhattodomyself。’Thewayshesetsthemeyesonamanisasight。It’sthesenseinthemandthehumannaturethattakesyou。"

"Yes，it’sthesense，"saidTread，"andherlookingatyouasifsheexpectedyoutohavesenseyourself，andunderstandthatshe’sdoingfairbusiness。It’sclear—headedlike——heraskingquestionsandfindingoutwhatStornhammencando。

She’shavingtheoldthingsdoneupsothatshecanfindout，andsothatshecanprovethattheCourtworkisgoingtobepaidfor。That’smybelief。"

"Butwhatdoesitallmean？"saidJoeButtle，settinghispotofbeerdownonthetaproomtable，roundwhichtheysatinconclave。"Where’sthemoneycomingfrom？There’smoneysomewhere。"

Treadwastheadvancedthinkerofthevillage。Hehadcome——throughreverses——fromabiggerplace。Hereadthenewspapers。

"It’llcomefromwhereit’sgotawayofcoming，"hegaveforthportentously。"It’llcomefromAmerica。Howtheymanagetogetholdofsomuchofitthereispastme。Butthey’vegotit，dang’em，andthey’rereadytospenditforwhattheywant，thoughthey’reasharplot。Twelveyearsagotherewasagoodbitoftalkaboutherladyship’sfatherbeingoneofthemwiththefullestpockets。Shecameherewithplenty，butSirNigelgotholdofitforhisgames，andthey’rethegamesthatcostmoney。Herladyshipwasn’tbornwithabackbone，poorthing，butthisnewonewas，andherladyship’sfatherisherfather，andyoumarkmywords，there’smoneycomingintoStornham，thoughit’snotgoingtobeplayedthefoolwith。

Lord，yes！thisnewonehasabackboneandgoodstrongwristsandagoodstronghead，thoughImustsay"——withalittlemasculinechuckleofadmission——"it’sabitunnaturalwiththemeyelashesandthemeyeslookingatyoubetween’em。

Likebluewaterbetweenrushesinthemarsh。"

Beforethenexttwenty—fourhourshadpassedastillmoreunlooked—foreventhadtakenplace。Longoutstandingbillshadbeenpaid，andinasmatter—of—factmannerasiftheyhadnotbeensentinandignored，insomecasesforyears。ThesettlementofJoeButtle’saccountsenthimtobedattheday’sendalmostlight—headed。Tobecomesuddenlythepossessorofthirty—sevenpounds，fifteenandtenpencehalf—penny，ofwhichallhopehadbeenlostthreeyearsago，wasalmosttoomuchforanyman。Sixpounds，eightpounds，tenpounds，cameintoplacesasifsovereignshadbeensixpences，andshillingsfarthings。

Morethanonecottagewoman，atthesightofthehoardedwealthinherstaringgoodman’shand，gulpedandbegantocry。Iftheyhadhaditbefore，andindriblets，itwouldhavebeenspentlongsince，now，inalump，itmeantshoesandpetticoatsandteaandsugarintemporaryabundance，andthesenseofthisabundancewasfelttobeentirelyduetoAmericanmagic。Americawas，infact，greatlylaudedanddiscussed，thecaseof"Gaarge"Lumsdenbeingmuchquoted。

CHAPTERXXI

KEDGERS

TheworkatStornhamCourtwentonsteadily，thoughwithnogreaterrapiditythanisusuallyachievedbyrurallabourers。

Therewas，however，withoutdoubt，acertainstimulusintheoccasionalappearanceofMissVanderpoel，whoalmostdailysaunteredroundtheplacetolookon，andexchangeafewwordswiththeworkmen。Whentheysawhercoming，themen，hastilystandinguptotouchtheirforeheads，wereconsciousofaslightaccelerationofbeingwhichwasnotquitetheordinaryquickeningproducedbythepresenceofemployers。Itwas，infact，asensationratherpleasingthananxious。Herinterestintheworkwas，uponthewhole，onewhichtheyfoundthemselvesbeginningtoshare。Theunusualnessofthesituation——ayoungwoman，whoevidentlystoodformanythingsandpowersdesirable，employinglabourersandseemingtoknowwhatsheintendedthemtodo——wasathingnoteasytogetover，orbecomeaccustomedto。Butthereshewas，aseasyandwellmanneredasyouplease——andwithgentlefolks’ways，though，asanAmerican，suchfinishcouldscarcelybeexpectedfromher。Shekneweachman’sname，itwasrevealedgradually，and，whatwasmore，knewwhathestoodforinthevillage，whatcottagehelivedin，howmanychildrenhehad，andsomethingabouthiswife。Sherememberedthingsandmadeinquirieswhichshowedknowledge。Besidesthis，sherepresented，thoughperhapstheywerescarcelyyetfullyawaketothefact，thepromisetheirdiscourageddulnesshadlonglostsightof。

Itactuallybecameapparentthatherladyship，whowalkedwithher，wasalteringdaybyday。Wasittruethatthebitofcolourtheyhadheardspokenofwhenshereturnedfromtownwasdeepeningandfixingitselfonhercheek？Itsometimeslookedlikeit。Wassheabitlessstiffandshy—likeandfrightenedinherway？ButtlementionedtohisfriendsatTheClockthathewassureofit。Shehadbeguntolookamaninthefacewhenshetalked，andmorethanoncehehadheardherlaughatthingshersistersaid。

Toonemanmorethantoanyotherhadcomeanalmostunspeakablepieceofluckthroughthenewarrival——athingwhichtohimself，atleast，wasastheopeningoftheheavens。ThismanwasthediscouragedKedgers。MissVanderpoel，comingwithherladyshiptotalktohim，foundthatthemanwasapersonofmoreexperiencethanmighthavebeenimagined。Inhisyouthhehadbeenanundergardeneratagreatplace，andbeingfondofhiswork，hadlearnedmorethanundergardenersoftenlearn。Hehadbeenoneofasmallarmyofworkersundertheordersofanimposingheadgardener，whoseknowledgewasascience。Hehadseenandtakenpartinwhatwasdoneinorchidhouses，orangeries，vineries，peachhouses，conservatoriesfullofwondroustropicalplants。Butitwasnoteasyforamanlikehimself，uneducatedandlackingconfidenceofcharacter，toadvanceasabolderyoungmanmighthavedone。Theall—rulingheadgardenerhadinspiredhimwithawe。Hehadwatchedhimreverently，accumulatingknowledge，butbeinggiven，asanunderling，noopportunitytodomorethanobeyorders。Hehadspenthislifeinobeying，andcongratulatedhimselfthatobediencesecuredhimhisweeklywage。

"Hewasagreatman——Mr。Timson——hewas，"hesaid，intalkingtoMissVanderpoel。"Ay，hewasthat。Kneweverythingthatcouldhappentoafloweroras’ruboravegetable。

Knewitall。Hadalib’eryofbooksan’read’emnightan’

day。Headgardener’scottagewasgoodenoughforgentry。

TheoldMarkisusedtowalkroundthehothousesan’gardenstalkingtohimbythehour。IfyoudidwhathetoldyouEXACTLY

likehetoldittoyou，thenyouwereallright，butifyoudidn’t——well，youwasofftheplacebeforeyou’dtimetolookround。Workedunderhimfromtwentytoforty。Thenhediedan’

thenewonethatcameinhadnewways。Hemadeacleansweepofmostofus。ThemensaidhewasjealousofMr。Timson。"

"Thatwasbadforyou，ifyouhadawifeandchildren，"

MissVanderpoelsaid。

"Eightofustofeed，"Kedgersanswered。"Amanwiththatonhimcan’twait，miss。IhadtotakethefirstplaceIcouldget。Itwasn’tagoodone——poorparsonagewithabigfamilyan’notroomontheplaceforthevegetablestheywanted。Cabbages，an’potatoes，an’beans，an’broccoli。Notimenorgroundforflowers。Usedtoseemasifflowersgottobeakindofdream。"Kedgersgaveventtoadeprecatoryhalflaugh。"Me——Iwasfondofflowers。Iwouldn’thaveaskednobetterthantoliveamong’em。Mr。Timsongavemeabookortwowhenhislordshipsenthimalotofnewones。I’veboughtafewmyself——thoughIsupposeIcouldn’taffordit。"

Fromthepoorparsonagehehadgonetoamarketgardener，andhadevidentlylikedtheworkbetter，hardandunceasingasithadbeen，becausehehadbeenamongflowersagain。Suddenchangesfromforcinghousestochilloutsidedampnesshadresultedinrheumatism。Afterthatthingshadgonebadly。Hebegantoberegardedaspasthisprimeofstrength。Lowerwagesandlabourstillashardasever，thoughitprofessedtobelighter，andthereforecheaper。AtlastthebigneglectedgardensofStornham。

"WhatI’mseeing，miss，allthetime，iswhatcouldbedonewith’em。Wonderfulit’dbe。Theymightbetheshowofthecounty—ifwehadMr。Timsonhere。"

MissVanderpoel，standinginthesunshineonthebroadweed—grownpathway，wasconsciousthathewasremotelymoving。Hisflowers——hisflowers。Theyhadbeenthecentreofhisrudimentaryruralbeing。Eachmanorwomancaredforsomeonething，andtheunfedlongingforitleftthelifeofthecreatureathwartedpassion。Kedgers，yearningtostirtheearthabouttherootsofbloomingthings，anddoomedtobroccoliandcabbage，hadspenthisyearsunfed。

Nothingisasmallthing。Kedgers，withtheearthunderhisbroadfingernails，andhishalfapologeticlaugh，beingthecentreofhisownworld，wasaslargeasMountDunstan，whostoodthwartedinthecentreofhis。Chancing—forGodknowswhatmysteryofreason—tobebornoneofthosehavingpower，onemightperhapssetinorderaworldlikeKedgers’。

"Inthecourseoftwentyyears’workunderTimson，"shesaid，"youmusthavelearnedagreatdealfromhim。"

"Agoodbit，miss—agoodbit，"admittedKedgers。"IfIhadn’tha’caredforthework，Imightha’goneondoingitwithmyeyesshut，butIdidn’t。Mr。Timson’sheartwassetonitaswellashishead。An’minegottobe。ButI

wasn’tevensecondorthirdunderhim——Iwasonlyoneofalot。Hewouldhavethoughtmefinean’impidentifI’dtoldhimI’dgottoknowagooddealofwhatheknew——andhadsomebitsofideasofmyown。"

"Ifyouhadmenenoughunderyou，andcouldorderallyouwant，"MissVanderpoelsaidtentatively，"youknowwhattheplaceshouldbe，nodoubt。"

"ThatIdo，miss，"answeredKedgers，turningredwithfeeling。"Why，ifthesoilwaswelltreated，anythingwouldgrowhere。There’ssituationsforeverything。There’sshadeforthingsthatwantsit，andsouthaspectsforthingsthatwon’tgrowwithoutthewarmthof’em。Well，I’vegoneaboutmanyadaywhenIwaslowdowninmymindandworkedmyselfuptobeingcheerfulbyjustplanningwhereIcouldputthingsandwhatthey’dlooklike。Liliums，now，IcouldgrowtheminmassesfromJunetoOctober。"Hewasbecomingexcited，likeawarhorsescentingbattlefromafar，andforgothimself。"TheLiliumGiganteum——Idon’tknowwhetheryou’veeverseenone，miss——butifyoudid，it’dalmosttakeyourbreathaway。ALiliumthatgrowstwelvefeethighandmore，andhasaflowerlikeagreatsnow—whitetrumpet，andthescentpouringoutofitsothatitfloatsforyards。There’saplacewhereIcouldgrowthemsothatyou’dcomeonthemsudden，andyou’dthinktheycouldn’tbetrue。"

"Growthem，Kedgers，begintogrowthem，"saidMissVanderpoel。"Ihaveneverseenthem——Imustseethem。"

Kedgers’low，deprecatorychucklemadeitselfheardagain，"PerhapsI’mgoingtoofast，"hesaid。"Itwouldtakeagoodbitofexpensetodoit，miss。Agoodbit。"

ThenMissVanderpoelmade——andshemadeitinthesimplestmatter—of—factmanner，too——thestartlingremarkwhich，threehourslater，allStornhamvillagehadheardof。Themostastoundingpartoftheremarkwasthatitwasutteredasiftherewasnothinginitwhichwasnottheabsolutelynaturaloutcomeofthecircumstancesofthecase。

"Expensewhichisproperandnecessaryneednotbeconsidered，"shesaid。"Regularaccountswillbekeptandsupervised，butyoucanhaveallthatisrequired。"